Green Party's 'Zionism is racism' vote: Polanski signals leaders could get more power over policy
Summary
Delegates at the Green Party of England and Wales conference in Brighton voted on Sunday 4 October to adopt a policy equating Zionism with racism, by 1,022 votes to 813, a motion condemned as 'poisonous antisemitism' by chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. Israel called the motion antisemitic and barred party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country, the European Green Party said the motion goes against its policy, the head of the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, said leaving the party was 'possible', and Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces calls to rule out any coalition with the Greens. On 10 October Green MP Ellie Chowns said the party must guard against 'capture by extremists and racists' and that there had been a 'lack of leadership' from Polanski on the motion, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported. On Sunday 11 October Polanski signalled that Green leaders could get more power over policy amid the row, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, and said in a Guardian article that the party's rapid growth means its structures need to change and give leaders greater control.
Latest: Zack Polanski signalled that Green leaders could get more power over policy amid the row over the 'Zionism is racism' vote, saying the party's rapid growth means its structures need to change.
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How it unfolded
Sunday 11 October
Zack Polanski signalled that Green leaders could get more power over policy amid the row over the 'Zionism is racism' vote, saying the party's rapid growth means its structures need to change.
- 14:30The IndependentPolanski signals Green leaders could get more power over policy amid Zionism row
- 14:27Evening StandardPolanski signals Green leaders could get more power over policy amid Zionism row
- 11:00The GuardianZack Polanski signals Green party overhaul after row over Zionism vote
Saturday 10 October
Green MP Ellie Chowns said the party must guard against 'capture by extremists and racists' and that there had been a 'lack of leadership' from Zack Polanski on the 'Zionism is racism' motion.
- 05:10The IndependentGreen MP says party must guard against ‘capture by extremists and racists’
- 05:10Evening StandardGreen MP says party must guard against ‘capture by extremists and racists’
Tuesday 6 October
Zack Polanski issued a statement saying the Greens will 'not accept any exclusion' of people based on religion, as the row over the party's 'Zionism is racism' policy continues.
Monday 5 October
The chief rabbi condemned the motion as 'poisonous antisemitism', the European Green Party said it goes against its policy, and Zack Polanski said the Greens will 'not accept any exclusion' of people based on religion.
- 17:10The IndependentGreens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- 17:04Evening StandardGreens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- 15:10The GuardianGreen party of England and Wales facing ostracism over ‘Zionism is racism’ vote
- 12:36The IndependentAndy Burnham facing calls to rule out coalition deal with Greens after ‘Zionism is racism’ motion
- 10:40BBC NewsTensions exposed among Greens by 'Zionism is racism' conference vote
- 09:58Metro UKZack Polanski banned from Israel after Greens deem Zionism a form of racism
- 08:14The IndependentThe Greens’ ‘Zionism is racism’ motion blows any chance of a coalition with Labour
- 07:23BBC NewsJewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion
- 06:01The IndependentChair of Jewish Greens considering leaving party over ‘Zionism is racism’ motion
- 04:51EuronewsIsrael bars UK Green leader after party votes to define Zionism as racism
- 03:57Evening StandardWho voted for Green 'Zionism is racism' motion? Controversial move splits party
- 03:56The IndependentChief rabbi warns Green Party’s anti-zionist motion is a ‘threat to British Jews’
- 03:38The GuardianHead of Jewish Greens says she may leave party over ‘Zionism is racism’ vote
- 03:24Evening StandardChief rabbi condemns Green anti-Zionist motion as ‘poisonous antisemitism’
- 01:36Evening StandardZack Polanski banned from Israel after Green Party backs 'Zionism is racism' motion
Sunday 4 October
The UK Green Party passed a motion equating Zionism with racism, leading to the party leader being barred from entering Israel.
- 17:07The IndependentZack Polanski banned from Israel after Green Party ‘Zionism is racism’ policy
- 17:05Manchester Evening NewsGreen Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel
- 17:00The IndependentZack Polanski barred from Israel after ‘Zionism is racism’ made party policy
- 16:52Evening StandardZack Polanski barred from Israel after ‘Zionism is racism’ made party policy
- 11:00BBC NewsGreen Party members back 'Zionism is racism' motion
- 10:44The IndependentGreens make ‘Zionism is racism’ policy as Polanski skips vote
- 10:30The IndependentGreens make ‘Zionism is racism’ party policy as Polanski skips vote
- 10:26The HeraldGreens make ‘Zionism is racism’ policy as Polanski skips vote
- 10:21Evening StandardGreens make ‘Zionism is racism’ party policy as Polanski skips vote
- 10:17The IndependentGreen Party members pass ‘Zionism is racism’ motion
- 10:15The GuardianGreen party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racism